The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-09-29

Orlando Reporterl
The Alabama. Florida and Atlantic.
The above is the name of q new railroad CON-
pany which is just now displaying good deal
of activity in this county. aud which promises TO
be one of the mos. important lines in the State,
The line is projected to run from Birmingham.
Alabama, to Biscayne Bay on the east coast of
the Florida peninsula near its southern extremity.
1t is claimed that the terminal point will be on
good harbor, where. there is aSsuf1cient depth
of water to admit ordinary sea going vessels.
Little noise has been made over this line up
to this time, but large amount Of work has
been quietly done and rapid progress is still be-
ing made The line through Orange county has
been determined upon, and force of graders
and tie cutters numbering three to five hundred
has been at work for several weeks.
We freely confess that we have been little
skeptical about this enterprise and have said
little about it heretofore for this reason, and the
additional one that the reports which have filled
the air have been SO conflicting in their charac-
ter that it has seemed safe to say little. Mr.. j.
o. Fries, who has been in the employ of the rail-
road company for some time, and who, therefore,
is in position to know whereof he speaks, en-
terains the utmost confidence in the enterprise,
and freely expresses the opinion that the line
will be built, and that speedily He surveyed
most of the preliminary line through the county,
aud has been in constant communication for
weeks with men who are prominently connected
with the enterprise. On Saturday last Mr.. Fries
stated that the line would touch Eustis, Indian
Springs, Clay Springs and Orlando with two
branches from here, one via Lake Irma TO Rock
ledge on Indian river, and the other to Narcoe-
see. Mr.. Fries further states that there are at
present about five hundred men engaged in grad
ing and tie cutting near Clay Springs, and that
this force will be increased as men can be Sc
cured. He further states that the purchase OF
eleven thousand tons of sixty pound steel rails
is now under negotiation, and that the work
seems in fair way TO be pushed very rapidly.
DR.. Bronson, who is managing the details, was
here last week. He speaks of the enterprise
with the utmost confidence, and predicts that
this will be Florda's most important railroad.
The benefits to US of such line cannot be esti-
mated, 1t will open up vast field of fertile
country which is sadly in need of transportation.
1t will put us in direct communication with the
North and West, whence most of our heavy SUPP
plies come. 1t will open up to Florida the large
western cities, thus increasing the market and
demand for our products resulting in better mar
ket facilities for Florida's exports and reducing
the cost of her imports. 1t will afford an outlet
to the developing interests of the Indian river
and eastern coast regions, and ensure those who
live in the interior of the State better facilities
for getting TO the coast and for obtaining fish
and oysters which abound there. More thar
that, il will afford another route through the
State for the traffic with Key West, Cuba and rht
Bahamas, and thus enlarge Floridas commercial
| interests.
| We shall watch with great interest the devel
opmens of this project, and trust that all that il
now reported of it may prove true and that thu
next few months will see it completed, and an
other feeder to Orlandos growing Commercial
| importance